Parochial

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /pəˈɹəʊkɪəl/
• US IPA: /pəˈɹoÊŠkiÉ™l/

Origin

From Anglo-Norman parochial and its source Late Latin parochialis, an alteration of paroecialis ("of a church province"), from paroecia, from Hellenistic Greek παροικία (paroikia, "stay in a foreign land") , later “community, diocese”, from Ancient Greek πάροικος (paroikos, "neighbouring, neighbour"), from παρα- + οἶκος (oikos, "house").

Full definition of parochial

Adjective

1. Pertaining to a parish.
2. Characterized by an unsophisticated focus on local concerns to the exclusion of wider contexts; elementary in scope or outlook.The use of simple, primary colors in the painting gave it a parochial feel.Some people in the United States have been accused of taking a parochial view, of not being interested in international matters.
• 1918, 1st of February, "", an article in London's Daily Express byBut for men of principle and honour and straightforward thought there could be no middle course and no paltering with petty issues of party or parochial advantage.
• 1969, Christopher Smout: A History of the Scottish People 1560-1830, p 341:Its atmosphere might have been provincial, but it was never merely parochial.

Related terms

• parochial school
• parochial vicar
• parochialism